Summary translation

The study compares 26 organic dairy farms in the states of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) and Baden-Württemberg (Allgaeu region). The average milk yield of 6,700 kg is derived from roughage (74%), concentrates and cobs (23%), and commercial processing by-products (e.g., spent grains, pomace, and oil cake) (3%). Per cow and year 0.94 tons DM of concentrates are fed. The resulting intensity of concentrate use is 135 g/kg milk. Approximately 2/3 of the concentrates and processing by-products are purchased. The area related productivity is almost 7,000 kg milk/ha. For fodder production 0.96 ha per cow is needed, of which 0.85 ha is farm land and the equivalent area to produce the purchased fodder is 0.11 ha. Farm gate nutrient budgets for phosphorus and potassium are balanced in average. The nitrogen surplus averages only 43 kg N/ha, but the correlation between the amount of fodder purchased and increasing nitrogen surpluses (up to 85 kg/ha) is significant and close. About one half of direct costs are fodder costs, and another fourth are replacement costs. However, costs for concentrates increase with milk yield so that the direct cost free performance does not in all cases increase with the milk yield. Farms with 6,700 kg milk per cow and year realize a direct cost free performance of 2.000 EURO per cow, whereas others farms need 8,500 kg for the same level. The controversial intensification in organic dairy farming has, in some cases, significant impacts that must be assessed and considered carefully. Although the beneficial impacts of organic compared to conventional dairy farming still exist, the distinctions between the systems are diminishing.